Variable elastic coupling assembly forming shock absorber attachment and filtering block

Abstract

A variable elastic coupling assembly interconnecting a rod of a vehicle shock absorber and a structure to be damped in order to filter vibrations, comprises two rigid annular armatures, one of which is fastened to the rod, and the other to the structure. The armatures are bonded together through at least two elastomeric annular elements which delimit between them a closed space which is totally sealed with respect to the external environment, and which contains a gas phase and at least one liquid phase. The volume of the closed space is modified by the deformation under strain of the elastomeric annular elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A variable elastic coupling assembly interconnecting a rod of a vehicle shock absorber and a structure to be damped in order to filter vibrations, said assembly comprising two rigid annular armatures one of which is fastened to the rod and the other to the structure, said armatures being bonded together through three elastomeric annular elements including an upper elastomeric annular element, an intermediate elastomeric annular element, and a lower elastomeric annular element, which delimit between them a closed space containing a fluid, at least one of the lower, intermediate and upper elastomeric annular elements comprising at least one limit stop of elastomer, the volume of said closed space being modified by deformation under strain of said elastomeric annular elements, said closed space being totally sealed with respect to its external environment, and being constituted by two non-communicating annular chambers including an upper annular chamber, delimited by the upper elastomeric annular element and the intermediate elastomeric annular element, for filtering vibrations due to impact loads, and a lower annular chamber, delimited by the same intermediate elastomeric annular element and the lower elastomeric annular element, for filtering vibrations due to rebound loads, said closed space being connected to a management system for the fluid used to fill the closed space, making it possible to modulate the static and dynamic rigidities as a function of the road surface, by means of at least one connecting channel emptying into at least one of the annular chambers via a filling orifice provided in at least one of the armatures, and said fluid including a gas phase and at least one liquid phase. 
     
     
       2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid phase contained in the closed space comprises at least two components of different viscosities. 
     
     
       3. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid phase contained in the closed space comprises at least one viscous material. 
     
     
       4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the management system for the fluid used to fill the closed space comprises a multi-positioned distributor. 
     
     
       5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid management system comprises a direct control device managed as a function of loads generated by the shock absorber, thereby to provide an active variable elastic connecting assembly. 
     
     
       6. A variable elastic coupling assembly interconnecting a rod of a vehicle shock absorber and a structure to be damped in order to filter vibrations, said assembly comprising two rigid annular armatures one of which is fastened to the rod and the other to the structure, said armatures being bonded together through three spaced elastomeric annular elements, said armatures and elastomeric annular elements defining a closed space comprised of two closed annular chambers sealed from each other and containing a fluid, the volume of said closed space being modified by deformation under strain of said elastomeric annular elements, said closed space being totally sealed with respect to its external environment, said fluid including a gas phase and at least one liquid phase, said annular chambers being subdivided into two smaller annular chambers that communicate with each other only through a narrow annular space. 
     
     
       7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the chamber, which is subdivided into two smaller chambers, contains a viscous liquid phase, said liquid phase being subject to shear when passing through said narrow annular space.